Over the next three months, the 46th Street, 52nd Street and 61st
Street stations will be getting a "state-of the-art pigeon poop
mitigation system," that includes low-voltage wires and
ultrasonic sound devices to keep the birds at bay, according to
Councilman Jimmy
Van Bramer.

The bird-fighting upgrades have already begun at the 46th Street
station in Sunnyside, where the MTA has installed metal ridges
and nylon spikes around the train station entrances and under the
overpass to keep pigeons from roosting there.

Those will be joined soon by a sonic device that emits an
irritating noise only pigeons can hear, as well as low-voltage
wires on ledges that don't hurt the birds, but bug them enough to
get them to get them to shoo.

"The pigeons don’t like them, and it keeps them from hanging
around," Van Bramer said.

Those who live nearby say the train stations have been plagued
for years by the birds.

Community Board 2 member Regina Shanley said she's been hit by
bird poop at least four or five times while walking near the 52nd
Street station in Woodside, which she says has it the worst.

"Pigeon poop is literally piling up," she said.

Van Bramer said the city is also cracking down on residents who
scatter bird seed and other treats for the birds, which is
illegal.

And food for the pigeons can result in attracting even less
desirable critters: John Vincent Daniels Jr.
Square in Woodside, for example, has been plagued
recently by a rat infestation because of park-goers who feed the
pigeons.

"Not only do we have a pigeon problem, but we have a rat
problem," Van Bramer said, saying the city launched a "sting
operation" to try and catch the animal-loving perpetrators.

"The Parks Department and the Health Department have been there
for the last week catching people feeding pigeons, and fining
them appropriately," he said.